US 9529918

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 9,529,918, based on the provided patent text and current search results:

US Patent 9,529,918 Summary

• Title: System and methods thereof for downloading applications via a communication network
• Current Assignee: Hyperquery LLC
• Inventors: Joey Joseph Simhon, Amir Taichman, Adam Kariv
• Filing Date: December 11, 2013
• Issue Date: December 27, 2016
• Abstract: A method and system for downloading at least one application via a communication network are provided. The method comprises receiving an input search query from a user device; determining the search intent respective of the input search query, wherein the search intent indicates a topic of interest of a user of the user device; selecting, based on the search intent, at least one application from at least one applications central repository; creating a display segment over a display of the user device; displaying an icon corresponding to the at least one selected application in the display segment; establishing a direct communication link between the user device and a location hosting the at least one selected application in response to an input received from the user device; and downloading the application to the user device.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method Claim): This claim describes a method, implemented by a computing device, for enabling an application download. It involves:

  1. Receiving a search query from a user's device.
  2. Figuring out what the user intends to find (their "search intent") based on that query.
  3. Choosing at least one application from an online app store that matches this determined search intent.
  4. Making an icon for the chosen application appear on the user's device screen.
  5. Receiving a signal from the user's device indicating they want a specific application.
  6. Setting up a direct connection between the user's device and where that specific application is stored.
  7. Starting the download of that specific application to the user's device over this direct connection.

• Claim 11 (System Claim): This claim describes a system that performs the same application downloading functionality as Claim 1. The system includes:

  1. A network interface to receive the search query from the user device.
  2. A processor and memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the system to:
     • Determine the user's search intent from the query.
     • Select at least one application from an app store based on this intent.
     • Cause an icon for the selected app to be displayed on the user's device.
     • In response to user input, establish a direct communication link for the download.
     • Initiate the download of the selected application to the user device over that direct link.

Litigation / CAFC 2026 Dockets:

A search for US9529918 litigation shows that the patent is currently involved in numerous US district court cases, predominantly in the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, as well as the Northern District of California, District of Delaware, and Southern District of Florida. These cases span from 2023 to 2026. No specific CAFC 2026 dockets were immediately identifiable in the provided search results; however, the ongoing district court litigation indicates potential for future appeals to the CAFC. The patent is noted as "Active, expires 2032-04-20".

• Source: Google Patents for US9529918B2 (https://patents.google.com/patent/US9529918/en)

U.S. Patent 9,529,918, titled "System and methods thereof for downloading applications via a communication network," has been involved in several litigation cases. The current assignee of the patent is Hyperquery LLC.

Here is a summary of known litigation involving US Patent 9,529,918:

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Sony Corp.
  • Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00023
  • Filing Date: January 13, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Voluntarily dismissed with prejudice on February 19, 2026. No damages were awarded, and no injunctive relief was granted.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): HTC Corporation
  • Jurisdiction: Eastern District of Texas
  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00409
  • Filing Date: April 17, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on May 28, 2025. No damages or injunctive relief were awarded.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Electronic Arts, Inc. (EA)
  • Jurisdiction: Western District of Texas
  • Case Number: 7:25-cv-00176
  • Filing Date: April 18, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Voluntary dismissal with prejudice on September 5, 2025. No damages or injunctive relief were ordered.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc.
  • Jurisdiction: District Court, E.D. Texas
  • Case Number: 2:23-cv-00007
  • Filing Date: January 8, 2023
  • Outcome/Current Status: This case involves patent infringement claims. As of April 13, 2023, HyperQuery LLC filed a response to a motion to dismiss. The current status is "Open".

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Sony Electronics, Inc.
  • Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • Case Number: 2:24-cv-00611
  • Filing Date: July 2024 (approx.)
  • Outcome/Current Status: Dismissed without prejudice upon HyperQuery LLC's voluntary notice in January 2025.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Garmin Intl Inc
  • Jurisdiction: S.D. Florida
  • Case Number: 1:26-cv-21026
  • Filing Date: February 17, 2026
  • Outcome/Current Status: Voluntary dismissal without prejudice. HyperQuery retains the right to refile.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Canva US, Inc.
  • Jurisdiction: W.D. Texas
  • Case Number: 7:25-cv-00438
  • Filing Date: September 24, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Open as of January 27, 2026.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Appian Corp
  • Jurisdiction: E.D. Virginia
  • Case Number: 1:25-cv-01884
  • Filing Date: October 28, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Open as of October 28, 2025.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): BigCommerce Pty Ltd
  • Jurisdiction: E.D. Texas
  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00801
  • Filing Date: August 15, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Open as of November 10, 2025.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Creatio Emea Ltd
  • Jurisdiction: E.D. Texas
  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00654
  • Filing Date: June 23, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Open as of June 23, 2025.

• Plaintiff: HyperQuery LLC

  • Defendant(s): Chaos Software GmbH, Chaos Software Eood, Overwolf Ltd.
  • Jurisdiction: E.D. Texas
  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00407 (consolidated with 2:25cv44)
  • Filing Date: April 17, 2025
  • Outcome/Current Status: Open. Multiple filings including amended complaints, motions to dismiss, answers, and counterclaims have been recorded through October 2025.

Unified Patents has also initiated an ex parte reexamination proceeding against US Patent 9,529,918, finding substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims as of December 17, 2024. They initially filed this reexamination on November 5, 2024. Prior art contests related to this patent were also organized by Unified Patents.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings (Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, or Covered Business Method reviews) on file for US Patent 9,529,918 as of today, 2026-05-29.

Strategic summary

While there are no AIA trial proceedings against US Patent 9,529,918, Unified Patents initiated an ex parte reexamination proceeding on November 5, 2024, finding substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims as of December 17, 2024. This administrative challenge, though not an AIA trial, indicates that the patent's validity is actively being contested before the USPTO. The outcome of this reexamination could significantly impact the enforceability of all claims of US9529918. For a defendant, the "no PTAB activity" implies that the claims have not yet been tested in an IPR, PGR, or CBM setting, meaning a new AIA petition might still be a viable defensive strategy, should new prior art be identified or new arguments formulated.

Recommended next steps

• Monitor Ex Parte Reexamination: Closely monitor the ongoing ex parte reexamination initiated by Unified Patents. The findings of "substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims" are a strong signal that the patent's validity is in question. The specific prior art cited in the reexamination (e.g., US 8392282, US 20110307354, and US 20050022182) should be thoroughly analyzed for its applicability to a defendant's specific product or service.
• Evaluate for New AIA Trial Petition: Given the absence of prior IPR, PGR, or CBM proceedings, a defendant could consider filing their own AIA trial petition (IPR/PGR) if relevant prior art is discovered that was not considered during initial prosecution or the current ex parte reexamination. This would provide an independent challenge avenue.
• Leverage Reexamination in Litigation: If litigation is ongoing, the fact that "substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims" have been found in the ex parte reexamination can be a powerful tool for stays, claim construction leverage, and settlement negotiations.

The USPTO Patent Center for US9529918 should be consulted for the latest documents and status of the ex parte reexamination.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US9529918/en

Inventors

• Joey Joseph Simhon: Employer at time of filing not determinable from the patent text.
• Amir Taichman: Employer at time of filing not determinable from the patent text.
• Adam Kariv: Employer at time of filing not determinable from the patent text.

The patent lists "Doat Media Ltd" as the original assignee and the inventors are also listed as assignors in the 2013-12-11 reassignment to Doat Media Ltd, suggesting they were likely employed by Doat Media Ltd at the time of filing. There is no information to suggest they departed within 12 months of filing.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Doat Media Ltd.
It is not determinable from the provided text whether Doat Media Ltd shipped a product embodying the claims or their primary line of business. Their current status is not determinable from the provided text, other than that the patent was reassigned from them in 2022.

Assignment timeline

• 2013-12-11 (executed) / recorded 2013-12-11

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: KARIV, ADAM, SIMHON, JOEY JOSEPH, TAICHMAN, AMIR (Inventors)
  • Assignee: DOAT MEDIA LTD.
  • Correspondent: BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C., 1625 K STREET, N.W. SUITE 1000, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20006
  • Context: Internal transfer from inventors to initial assignee.

• 2022-07-28 (executed) / recorded 2022-07-28 — Reel 059952/0126

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: DOAT MEDIA LTD
  • Assignee: HYPERQUERY LLC
  • Correspondent: LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG, KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK, LLP, 600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST, WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, 07090
  • Context: Transfer-to-asserter.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9529918
    2013 : Assigned to Doat Media Ltd
    2022 : Assigned to Hyperquery LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The transfer from Doat Media Ltd to Hyperquery LLC (Reel 059952/0126, 2022-07-28) is a strong signal. Hyperquery LLC's name ("Hyperquery") and the extensive litigation activity with numerous defendants (as detailed in the Litigation Summary) strongly suggest a licensing-only entity that does not ship products. The nature of these cases (patent infringement claims across various districts against numerous companies) is characteristic of a shell entity engaged in assertion.

2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Hyperquery LLC is listed as a high-frequency plaintiff by Unified Patents, and the extensive litigation detailed in the "Litigation Summary" confirms its role as a patent asserter.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. The correspondent changed between the first (BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.) and second (LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG, KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK, LLP) recorded assignments.

4. Cascading transfers — Not present. There are only two recorded assignments, which does not constitute cascading transfers.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The assignment to Hyperquery LLC occurred on 2022-07-28 (Reel 059952/0126). The first reported litigation case, HyperQuery LLC v. LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc. (Case Number: 2:23-cv-00007), was filed on January 8, 2023, which is less than 6 months after the assignment. This indicates the chain was arranged to enable assertion.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. No evidence of bankruptcy in the assignment records or patent text.

7. Privateering — Unclear. While Hyperquery LLC asserts patents, there is no direct evidence from the provided text or assignment records to suggest that Doat Media Ltd transferred the patent with an agreement for Hyperquery LLC to assert on Doat Media Ltd's behalf against competitors.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain ends with Hyperquery LLC, which is an asserter, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is driven by multiple strong signals: the transfer to Hyperquery LLC (Reel 059952/0126, 2022-07-28), which is a known high-frequency plaintiff (asserter), and the pre-litigation transfer date (within 6 months of the first lawsuit). These factors strongly indicate that the patent is being used for assertion purposes by a non-practicing entity.

USPTO Assignment Center search: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 9529918, I will examine the "References Cited" section of the patent as listed on Google Patents, which is typically derived from the USPTO data. This section includes prior art identified by the patent applicant and/or the patent examiner during prosecution.

Based on the information available for US9529918B2, the following prior art references are cited within the patent document itself:

U.S. Patent Documents:

• US5911043A

  • Full Citation: US5911043A - System and method for computer-based rating of information retrieved from a computer network
  • Publication Date: June 8, 1999
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for computer-based rating of information retrieved from a computer network. While broad, aspects related to managing and presenting information could potentially anticipate elements of claim 1 involving "selecting, based on the search intent, at least one application" or "causing an icon corresponding to the at least one selected application to be displayed."
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (specifically concerning the selection and display of information, which could be generalized to applications).

• US6101529A

  • Full Citation: US6101529A - Apparatus for updating wallpaper for computer display
  • Publication Date: August 8, 2000
  • Brief Description: This patent focuses on updating wallpaper for computer displays. While seemingly unrelated to application downloads, if the "display segment" (as mentioned in claims 1 and 10) is considered a form of dynamic display or "wallpaper," then the mechanisms for updating and displaying content could be relevant.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (specifically relating to the creation and display within a dynamic segment on a user device).

• US6484162B1

  • Full Citation: US6484162B1 - Labeling and describing search queries for reuse
  • Publication Date: November 19, 2002
  • Brief Description: This patent addresses labeling and describing search queries for reuse. This directly relates to the "determining the search intent" step in US9529918, as understanding and categorizing queries is a fundamental part of intent determination.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15 (specifically related to determining search intent based on input search queries).

• US6564213B1

  • Full Citation: US6564213B1 - Search query autocompletion
  • Publication Date: May 13, 2003
  • Brief Description: This patent is about search query autocompletion. While not directly about intent, it touches upon processing user input for search, which is a precursor to intent determination. The handling of user queries for improved search functionality could be seen as relevant.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (specifically the "receiving an input search query" element and potentially indirectly to intent determination through query refinement).

• US6605121B1

  • Full Citation: US6605121B1 - Method, apparatus and system for improved content management and delivery
  • Publication Date: August 12, 2003
  • Brief Description: This patent broadly covers improved content management and delivery. Depending on the specific details of content selection and delivery, it could potentially anticipate aspects of "selecting... at least one application" and "downloading the application."
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (concerning content selection and delivery aspects).

• US20040186989A1

  • Full Citation: US20040186989A1 - Controlling and remotely monitoring accessed network data
  • Publication Date: September 23, 2004
  • Brief Description: This publication discusses controlling and remotely monitoring accessed network data. This relates to the broader network communication and data transfer aspects of downloading applications.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (related to establishing a communication link and downloading over a network).

• US20040229601A1

  • Full Citation: US20040229601A1 - Method and system allowing for one mobile phone number (MSISDN) to be associated with a plurality of wireless devices ('Multi-SIM')
  • Publication Date: November 18, 2004
  • Brief Description: This patent application describes associating a single mobile phone number with multiple wireless devices. Its relevance to US9529918 is less direct but might relate to user device identification or management in a multi-device context if such details were central to the download process.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct, but could potentially touch upon the "user device" aspect in claims 1, 11, if the context of multiple devices for a single user is considered.

• US20050071328A1

  • Full Citation: US20050071328A1 - Personalization of web search
  • Publication Date: March 31, 2005
  • Brief Description: This publication details the personalization of web search, which is highly relevant to "determining the search intent" as personalization often relies on understanding user interests.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (specifically related to determining search intent, especially implicit intent based on user profiles/preferences).

• US20050076367A1

  • Full Citation: US20050076367A1 - System and method for creating user profiles
  • Publication Date: April 7, 2005
  • Brief Description: This patent concerns the creation of user profiles. User profiles are explicitly mentioned in US9529918 as "personal variables" used for determining implicit intent.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (directly relevant to the "personal variables" used in determining implicit intent).

• US20050102407A1

  • Full Citation: US20050102407A1 - System and method for adult approval URL pre-screening
  • Publication Date: May 12, 2005
  • Brief Description: This publication describes URL pre-screening for adult approval. While specific to content filtering, it involves processing URLs and potentially making decisions based on content characteristics, which broadly relates to selecting applications from repositories based on certain criteria.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct, but could potentially be argued to relate to selecting applications (claim 1, 11) if "pre-screening" or filtering is considered part of the selection process.

• US20050108406A1

  • Full Citation: US20050108406A1 - System and method for dynamically generating a customized menu page
  • Publication Date: May 19, 2005
  • Brief Description: This patent application describes dynamically generating customized menu pages. This is highly relevant to the "creating a display segment over a display of the user device" and "displaying an icon" steps of US9529918, especially if the display segment is considered a form of customized menu or interface.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (directly related to creating and displaying content in a dynamic display segment).

• US20050149496A1

  • Full Citation: US20050149496A1 - System and method for dynamic context-sensitive federated search of multiple information repositories
  • Publication Date: July 7, 2005
  • Brief Description: This publication relates to dynamic context-sensitive federated search across multiple repositories. This is highly relevant to US9529918's goal of selecting applications from "at least one applications central repository" based on "search intent," particularly if context is used to refine the search.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (directly relevant to selecting applications from repositories and potentially also to determining search intent based on context).

• US20050283468A1

  • Full Citation: US20050283468A1 - Anticipated query generation and processing in a search engine
  • Publication Date: December 22, 2005
  • Brief Description: This publication covers anticipated query generation and processing in a search engine. This relates to refining and understanding user queries, which can feed into the determination of search intent.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 5, 11, 15 (related to processing input search queries and potentially generating aspects of search intent).

• US20060031529A1

  • Full Citation: US20060031529A1 - Virtual application manager
  • Publication Date: February 9, 2006
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a virtual application manager. This could be relevant if it includes aspects of discovering, managing, or initiating the download of applications, even if not explicitly tied to intent-based searching.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (potentially aspects of selecting and initiating download of applications).

• US20060064411A1

  • Full Citation: US20060064411A1 - Search engine using user intent
  • Publication Date: March 23, 2006
  • Brief Description: This is highly relevant as it describes a "Search engine using user intent." This directly addresses the core innovation claimed in US9529918 regarding determining and using search intent.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15 (directly anticipates the core concept of determining and using search intent).

• US20060136403A1

  • Full Citation: US20060136403A1 - System and method for digital content searching based on determined intent
  • Publication Date: June 22, 2006
  • Brief Description: Similar to US20060064411A1, this publication directly addresses "digital content searching based on determined intent," making it highly relevant to the novelty of US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15 (directly anticipates the core concept of determining and using search intent for content/application searching).

• US20060206803A1

  • Full Citation: US20060206803A1 - Interactive desktop wallpaper system
  • Publication Date: September 14, 2006
  • Brief Description: This publication describes an interactive desktop wallpaper system. Similar to US6101529A, it could be relevant to the "creating a display segment" and "displaying an icon" steps if the display segment is considered a form of interactive wallpaper.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (specifically relating to the creation and display within a dynamic segment on a user device).

• US20060248062A1

  • Full Citation: US20060248062A1 - Method and system for content search with mobile computing devices
  • Publication Date: November 2, 2006
  • Brief Description: This publication discusses content search with mobile computing devices. It is relevant to the general domain of US9529918, especially if it includes mechanisms for improving search results or user experience on mobile devices.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (general aspects of searching and providing content on mobile devices).

• US20060277167A1

  • Full Citation: US20060277167A1 - Search apparatus having a search result matrix display
  • Publication Date: December 7, 2006
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a search apparatus with a search result matrix display. This could be relevant to the display of application icons in a "display segment" if that display format resembles a matrix or organized presentation of results.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (relating to the display of search results/icons in a structured manner).

• US20070011167A1

  • Full Citation: US20070011167A1 - Optimization of queries on a repository based on constraints on how the data is stored in the repository
  • Publication Date: January 11, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication describes query optimization based on repository constraints. This relates to the efficiency and effectiveness of searching "at least one applications central repository" in US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (related to searching and selecting applications from a repository).

• US20070082707A1

  • Full Citation: US20070082707A1 - Tile space user interface for mobile devices
  • Publication Date: April 12, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a "Tile space user interface for mobile devices." This is highly relevant to the "creating a display segment" and "displaying an icon" steps, especially if the display segment is implemented as a tile-based interface.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (directly related to creating and displaying visual elements in a dynamic display segment on a mobile device).

• US20070112739A1

  • Full Citation: US20070112739A1 - Intelligent mobile search client
  • Publication Date: May 17, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication describes an "Intelligent mobile search client." This is broadly relevant to the system and method of US9529918, which aims to provide an improved application search experience on user devices.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (general aspects of intelligent search on mobile devices, potentially encompassing intent determination and presentation of results).

• US20070174900A1

  • Full Citation: US20070174900A1 - System and method for establishing a trust model governing interaction and service or program delivery
  • Publication Date: July 26, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication concerns establishing a trust model for service or program delivery. While not directly about intent-based search, it might relate to the secure "establishing a direct communication link" and "downloading the application" if trust is a component of that process.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct, but could relate to the establishment of the communication link and download in claims 1, 11.

• US20070204039A1

  • Full Citation: US20070204039A1 - System and method of downloading restricted applications to wireless devices
  • Publication Date: August 30, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication focuses on downloading restricted applications to wireless devices. While the "restricted" aspect is different, the core mechanism of "downloading applications to wireless devices" is shared with US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (specifically the "downloading the application to the user device" element, and "establishing a direct communication link").

• US7266588B2

  • Full Citation: US7266588B2 - Network service system and method including a channel generator
  • Publication Date: September 4, 2007
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a network service system with a channel generator. The relevance is indirect but could pertain to how content or applications are delivered through specific "channels" or interfaces.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct, but could relate to the communication network and delivery of applications in claims 1, 11.

• US20070239724A1

  • Full Citation: US20070239724A1 - Mobile search services related to direct identifiers
  • Publication Date: October 11, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication discusses "Mobile search services related to direct identifiers." This is broadly relevant to searching for applications on mobile devices.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (general aspects of searching for content on mobile devices).

• US20070255831A1

  • Full Citation: US20070255831A1 - Contextual mobile local search based on social network vitality information
  • Publication Date: November 1, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication describes "Contextual mobile local search." The "contextual" aspect is highly relevant to determining implicit intent as described in US9529918 (e.g., environmental variables like location).
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (directly relevant to determining implicit intent based on environmental or personal variables/context).

• US7302272B2

  • Full Citation: US7302272B2 - Cell phone parental control
  • Publication Date: November 27, 2007
  • Brief Description: This patent deals with cell phone parental control. While the application's purpose is different, it involves managing and potentially restricting access to or downloading of applications on a mobile device, which could overlap with some aspects of application selection or download.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct, but could relate to selecting/filtering applications (claims 1, 11).

• US20070300185A1

  • Full Citation: US20070300185A1 - Activity-centric adaptive user interface
  • Publication Date: December 27, 2007
  • Brief Description: This publication describes an "Activity-centric adaptive user interface." This is relevant to the "creating a display segment" and "displaying an icon" steps, especially if the display adapts based on user activity or context.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (related to dynamic and adaptive display segments and interfaces).

• US20080065685A1

  • Full Citation: US20080065685A1 - Systems and methods for presenting results of geographic text searches
  • Publication Date: March 13, 2008
  • Brief Description: This publication describes presenting results of geographic text searches. Geographic location is mentioned as an environmental variable for implicit intent in US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (relevant to using location-based information for search and intent determination).

• US20080114759A1

  • Full Citation: US20080114759A1 - Deriving user intent from a user query
  • Publication Date: May 15, 2008
  • Brief Description: This is extremely relevant as it explicitly covers "Deriving user intent from a user query," which is a central claim of US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15 (directly anticipates the core concept of determining user search intent from a query).

• US7376594B2

  • Full Citation: US7376594B2 - Method for distributing images via a network
  • Publication Date: May 20, 2008
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a method for distributing images via a network. While images are different from applications, the underlying network distribution mechanisms could be relevant to downloading applications via a communication network.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (general aspects of network distribution and downloading).

• US20080256443A1

  • Full Citation: US20080256443A1 - System for aggregating and displaying syndicated news feeds
  • Publication Date: October 16, 2008
  • Brief Description: This publication describes aggregating and displaying syndicated news feeds. This could be relevant to the display of application icons in a "display segment" if that segment is used to present aggregated content or recommendations.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (related to displaying content in a structured or aggregated manner within a display segment).

• US7461061B2

  • Full Citation: US7461061B2 - User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content
  • Publication Date: December 2, 2008
  • Brief Description: This patent covers user interface methods for selecting and presenting content based on user actions. This is highly relevant to "displaying an icon" and "receiving an input from the user device indicating a particular one... [and] causing establishment of a direct communication link."
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 2, 11, 12 (directly relevant to user interaction with displayed content for selection and subsequent actions).

• US20090049052A1

  • Full Citation: US20090049052A1 - Flexible method and system for providing digital content
  • Publication Date: February 19, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a flexible method and system for providing digital content. This broadly covers the delivery of applications, which are a type of digital content.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (general aspects of providing and delivering digital content, including applications).

• US20090070318A1

  • Full Citation: US20090070318A1 - Method and system for selecting personalized search engines for accessing information
  • Publication Date: March 12, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication describes selecting personalized search engines for accessing information. The "personalized" aspect relates to using user information to tailor search, which can be linked to determining search intent.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (related to personalization and potentially implicit intent).

• US20090077047A1

  • Full Citation: US20090077047A1 - Method and apparatus for identifying and classifying query intent
  • Publication Date: March 19, 2009
  • Brief Description: This is highly relevant as it describes a "Method and apparatus for identifying and classifying query intent," directly addressing a core aspect of US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 15, 16 (directly anticipates the concept of identifying and classifying query intent, including analytical methods).

• US7529741B2

  • Full Citation: US7529741B2 - Methods and systems for segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections
  • Publication Date: May 5, 2009
  • Brief Description: This patent describes methods for segmenting user preferences. User preferences are part of "personal variables" used to determine implicit intent in US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (directly relevant to using user preferences for intent determination).

• US7533084B2

  • Full Citation: US7533084B2 - Monitoring user specific information on websites
  • Publication Date: May 12, 2009
  • Brief Description: This patent covers monitoring user-specific information on websites. Such monitoring could provide "personal variables" or insights into user "topic of interest" for implicit intent determination.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (relevant to gathering user-specific information for implicit intent determination).

• US20090125482A1

  • Full Citation: US20090125482A1 - System and method for filtering rules for manipulating search results in a hierarchical search and navigation system
  • Publication Date: May 14, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication describes filtering rules for manipulating search results. This is relevant to "selecting, based on the search intent, at least one application" as filtering is a key part of selection.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (related to selecting/filtering applications based on certain rules or criteria).

• US7565383B2

  • Full Citation: US7565383B2 - Application recovery
  • Publication Date: July 21, 2009
  • Brief Description: This patent concerns application recovery. While not directly about downloading, it relates to managing applications on a system, which could implicitly touch upon aspects of application availability or identification within a repository.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct.

• US20090210403A1

  • Full Citation: US20090210403A1 - System and method for extended structured searching architecture
  • Publication Date: August 20, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a system and method for extended structured searching architecture. This relates to the underlying search mechanisms for finding applications within repositories.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (related to searching for applications in a structured manner).

• US20090234814A1

  • Full Citation: US20090234814A1 - Configuring a search engine results page with environment-specific information
  • Publication Date: September 17, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication describes "Configuring a search engine results page with environment-specific information." This is highly relevant to displaying search results (including application icons) and using "environmental variables" for implicit intent determination.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 14, 19 (directly relevant to using environmental variables for intent and configuring display segments with results).

• US20090239587A1

  • Full Citation: US20090239587A1 - System and method for appliance control via a personal communication or entertainment device
  • Publication Date: September 24, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication describes appliance control via a personal communication device. The relevance is indirect, but if "applications" are considered tools for control, it might broadly relate to user devices interacting with software.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct.

• US20090240680A1

  • Full Citation: US20090240680A1 - Techniques to perform relative ranking for search results
  • Publication Date: September 24, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication details "Techniques to perform relative ranking for search results." This is relevant to how applications are "selected" and potentially ordered for display in US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (related to selecting applications, where ranking might influence the selection).

• US7599925B2

  • Full Citation: US7599925B2 - Using query expression signatures in view matching
  • Publication Date: October 6, 2009
  • Brief Description: This patent describes using query expression signatures in view matching. This relates to understanding and processing queries for search, which is part of determining search intent.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 5, 11, 15 (related to processing input search queries and intent determination).

• US20090277322A1

  • Full Citation: US20090277322A1 - Scalable Music Recommendation by Search
  • Publication Date: November 12, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication discusses scalable music recommendation by search. While specific to music, the underlying principles of recommending content based on search and potentially user preferences are relevant to recommending applications.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (general concepts of search-based recommendations, adaptable to applications).

• US7636900B2

  • Full Citation: US7636900B2 - Personalized virtual reality home screen for mobile devices
  • Publication Date: December 22, 2009
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a "Personalized virtual reality home screen for mobile devices." This is highly relevant to "creating a display segment over a display of the user device" and "displaying an icon," especially given the personalization aspect.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 14, 19 (directly relevant to personalized display segments and interfaces on mobile devices).

• US20090327261A1

  • Full Citation: US20090327261A1 - Search techniques for rich internet applications
  • Publication Date: December 31, 2009
  • Brief Description: This publication focuses on "Search techniques for rich internet applications." This is directly relevant to searching for applications via a communication network, as specified in US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 11 (general search techniques for applications).

• US20100042912A1

  • Full Citation: US20100042912A1 - Reminder and notification system for a parent
  • Publication Date: February 18, 2010
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a reminder and notification system. Its relevance is indirect, but if notifications lead to application downloads, there could be a tangential relationship.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct.

• US20100082661A1

  • Full Citation: US20100082661A1 - Linking Search Queries to Rich Media Themes
  • Publication Date: April 1, 2010
  • Brief Description: This publication discusses linking search queries to rich media themes. This relates to understanding the context or intent behind a query to provide relevant results, which can be applied to finding applications.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 5, 6, 11, 15, 16 (related to processing queries and determining intent for relevant results).

• US20100094854A1

  • Full Citation: US20100094854A1 - System for automatically categorizing queries
  • Publication Date: April 15, 2010
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a "System for automatically categorizing queries." This is highly relevant to "determining the search intent" in US9529918, as categorizing queries is a fundamental step in understanding intent.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 15, 16 (directly relevant to determining search intent through query categorization).

• US20100106706A1

  • Full Citation: US20100106706A1 - Method and apparatus for identifying related searches in a database search system
  • Publication Date: April 29, 2010
  • Brief Description: This publication describes identifying related searches in a database system. This relates to improving search results and understanding user interests, which can feed into intent determination and application selection.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (related to improving search and selection based on query analysis).

• US7774003B1

  • Full Citation: US7774003B1 - Providing location-based auto-complete functionality
  • Publication Date: August 10, 2010
  • Brief Description: This patent describes providing location-based auto-complete functionality. Location is an "environmental variable" in US9529918 for implicit intent, making this relevant to query processing and intent.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (related to using location data in query processing and implicit intent determination).

• US7797298B2

  • Full Citation: US7797298B2 - Serving cached query results based on a query portion
  • Publication Date: September 14, 2010
  • Brief Description: This patent covers serving cached query results based on a query portion. This relates to efficient retrieval of search results, which could apply to selecting and presenting applications.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (related to efficient searching and selection of applications).

• US20100257552A1

  • Full Citation: US20100257552A1 - Method and Apparatus for Customizing User Experience
  • Publication Date: October 7, 2010
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a method and apparatus for customizing user experience. Customization often involves understanding user preferences or intent, making it relevant to the personalization aspects of US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 (related to personalizing the user experience, which includes displaying content based on intent).

• US20100268673A1

  • Full Citation: US20100268673A1 - Associate memory learning agent technology for travel optimization and monitoring
  • Publication Date: October 21, 2010
  • Brief Description: This publication describes learning agent technology for optimization. The concept of a learning agent could relate to how the system determines search intent or refines application selection over time.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 15 (potential relevance to the learning or refinement aspects of intent determination).

• US20110072492A1

  • Full Citation: US20110072492A1 - Screen icon manipulation by context and frequency of use
  • Publication Date: March 24, 2011
  • Brief Description: This publication discusses screen icon manipulation by context and frequency of use. This is highly relevant to "displaying an icon corresponding to the at least one selected application in the display segment" and could anticipate aspects of how those icons are presented.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 10, 11, 19 (directly related to displaying and potentially organizing icons on a display segment).

• US20110078767A1

  • Full Citation: US20110078767A1 - Usage control services performed in an end user device
  • Publication Date: March 31, 2011
  • Brief Description: This publication describes usage control services in an end-user device. This relates to managing applications on the user device after download or installation, which is a subsequent step to the download process in US9529918.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Less direct, but could relate to the post-download "installation and/or execution" mentioned in the description.

• US20110093488A1

  • Full Citation: US20110093488A1 - Dynamic search suggestion and category specific completion
  • Publication Date: April 21, 2011
  • Brief Description: This publication describes "Dynamic search suggestion and category specific completion." This is relevant to receiving and processing the input search query and could feed into the determination of search intent by providing refined query understanding.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 5, 11, 15 (related to processing input queries and refining search for intent).

• US20110131205A1

  • Full Citation: US20110131205A1 - System and method to identify context-dependent term importance of queries for predicting relevant search advertisements
  • Publication Date: June 2, 2011
  • Brief Description: This publication describes identifying "context-dependent term importance of queries for predicting relevant search advertisements." This is highly relevant to "determining the search intent" in US9529918, as it involves understanding query context for relevance.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 (directly relevant to context-dependent query analysis and intent determination).

• US7958141B2

  • Full Citation: US7958141B2 - Query utilization
  • Publication Date: June 7, 2011
  • Brief Description: This patent concerns query utilization. This broadly relates to how search queries are processed and used within a system, which can encompass intent determination and search execution.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 5, 11, 15 (general relevance to query processing).

• US7966321B2

  • Full Citation: US7966321B2 - Serving cached query results based on a query portion
  • Publication Date: June 21, 2011
  • Brief Description: This patent is another one that concerns serving cached query results based on a query portion. Similar to US7797298B2, this focuses on efficient result retrieval and could be seen as relevant to the selection and presentation of applications.
  • Potential Anticipated Claims: Claims 1, 7, 11, 17 (related to efficient searching and selection of applications).

It's worth noting that Unified Patents has filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against US9529918, finding substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims based on prior art. Some of the winning prior art identified by Unified Patents for their challenge includes US 8392282, US 20110307354, and US 20050022182. These specific documents are not explicitly listed in the Google Patents citation list for US9529918B2 but represent additional, potentially strong, prior art identified in a reexamination context. Due to the rule to strictly prefer the authoritative patent text, I am focusing on the citations within US9529918B2, but the Unified Patents action indicates that other relevant prior art exists and is being actively used to challenge the patent's validity.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 9,529,918 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the independent claims of US Patent 9,529,918 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date June 11, 2010). A PHOSITA in this field would be a software engineer or computer scientist experienced in mobile application development, search engine technologies, and network communication. The motivation for combining these references stems from a desire to improve the user experience of discovering and acquiring mobile applications, a problem explicitly recognized in the background of US9529918 itself.

The core of US9529918's independent claims (Claim 1 and Claim 11) lies in a method and system for downloading applications by:

1. Receiving a search query from a user device.
2. Determining the user's "search intent" from the query.
3. Selecting applications from a central repository based on this intent.
4. Displaying an icon of the selected application on the user device.
5. Upon user input, establishing a direct communication link and initiating the download of the selected application.

All components required for these claims were individually known and routinely combined in various contexts prior to the priority date of US9529918.

Combinations of Prior Art for Obviousness

Combination 1: Gross, Inamdar, and Microsoft Corporation (or Samsung)

Prior Art References:

• US20060064411A1 to Gross (Priority Date: September 22, 2004): This patent application, titled "Search engine using user intent," discloses a system and method for receiving a search query, determining the user's intent, conducting a search based on that intent, and returning results to the user.
• US20070204039A1 to Inamdar (Priority Date: February 24, 2006): This reference, titled "System and method of downloading restricted applications to wireless devices," describes the process of receiving a request to download an application to a wireless device and then downloading it from a server to the device, implicitly establishing a communication link.
• US20070082707A1 to Microsoft Corporation (Priority Date: September 16, 2005): This patent application, "Tile space user interface for mobile devices," teaches a user interface for mobile devices displaying "tiles" (icons) that correspond to applications. Each tile is selectable to launch the corresponding application.
• US7636900B2 to Samsung (Priority Date: October 25, 2006): This patent, "Personalized virtual reality home screen for mobile devices," further supports the concept of displaying a plurality of application icons on a mobile device's display.

Motivation to Combine:

A PHOSITA, encountering the widespread use of mobile applications and the common issue of inefficient application discovery through simple keyword searches (as noted in US9529918, paragraph ), would be motivated to improve the application search and download experience.

1. Enhancing Application Search Relevance (Gross): The PHOSITA would recognize the value of applying intent-based search, as taught by Gross, to the domain of mobile applications. Gross's method of determining user intent and conducting a search based on it directly addresses the problem of retrieving irrelevant results from simple keyword searches in application repositories.
2. Facilitating Application Acquisition (Inamdar): It was well-known to download applications to mobile devices, as demonstrated by Inamdar, which details the process of downloading applications to wireless devices via a server. The establishment of a direct communication link for this download is a standard networking practice.
3. Intuitive User Interaction (Microsoft/Samsung): To seamlessly integrate the improved search with the download process, a PHOSITA would find it obvious to present the intent-matched applications graphically on the user's device. Microsoft's "tile space" interface, displaying selectable icons (tiles) representing applications, and Samsung's similar teaching of application icons on a display, provide a clear and intuitive mechanism for users to select an application for download. The idea of creating a "display segment" to show these results is a routine GUI design choice for organizing information.

By combining these elements, a PHOSITA would arrive at the claimed invention, providing a system where a user submits a query, their intent is determined, relevant application icons are displayed, and the user can tap an icon to directly download the application. This combination yields the predictable result of a more efficient and user-friendly application discovery and acquisition process.

Claim Coverage by Combination 1:

• Receiving an input search query from a user device: Taught by Gross.
• Determining the search intent based on the input search query: Taught by Gross.
• Selecting, based on the search intent, at least one application from at least one applications central repository: Obvious by combining Gross's intent-based search with the common knowledge of application repositories (acknowledged in US9529918, paragraph ).
• Causing an icon corresponding to the at least one selected application to be displayed on a display of the user device: Taught by Microsoft Corporation and Samsung.
• Receiving via the communication network an input from the user device indicating a particular one of the at least one selected application: Taught by Microsoft Corporation's selectable tiles, and the concept of user gestures (Claim 2 of US9529918) was also known in the art.
• Causing establishment of a direct communication link between the user device and a location hosting the particular one of the at least one selected application in response to an input received from the user device: Taught by Inamdar's downloading from a server to a wireless device, which inherently involves a communication link. The "direct" nature of the link is a standard client-server download model.
• Causing initiation of a download of the particular one of the at least one selected application to the user device over the direct communication link: Taught by Inamdar.
• Claim 10 (instigating a display segment): A common user interface technique for presenting search results or recommendations distinctly.

Combination 2: Gross (or Koo), Yahoo! Inc., Inamdar, and Microsoft Corporation

Prior Art References:

• US20060064411A1 to Gross (or US20060136403A1 to Koo): For receiving queries and determining search intent.
• US20080114759A1 to Yahoo! Inc. (Priority Date: November 9, 2006): This patent application, "Deriving user intent from a user query," describes methods for extracting query components, matching them to entities, and determining user intent based on these matches. This reference specifically addresses detailed aspects of intent determination, such as tokenization and mapping to entities, as described in claims 5 and 15 of US9529918.
• US20070204039A1 to Inamdar: For downloading applications to wireless devices.
• US20070082707A1 to Microsoft Corporation: For displaying application icons on a mobile device and allowing user interaction.

Motivation to Combine:

Building on the previous reasoning, a PHOSITA would be further motivated to combine the more detailed intent determination techniques from Yahoo! Inc. with the other references. The Yahoo! Inc. patent provides explicit mechanisms for parsing queries and mapping tokens to entities to derive intent, which would be directly applicable to making the "determining search intent" step (Claims 1 and 11) of US9529918 more robust and accurate. This combination addresses the recognized problem of vague or general search queries yielding irrelevant results by providing a sophisticated method for understanding the user's true interest, and then seamlessly translating that into an actionable application download through known display and download mechanisms. The overall result—an intuitive and efficient system for application discovery and acquisition based on inferred user intent—would be predictable and desirable to a PHOSITA.

Therefore, claims 1, 3-7, 10, 11, and 13-19 of US9529918 would be rendered obvious by these combinations of prior art.